Ventilated compartmented box



June 5, 1956 Filed Dec. 12 1951 l. L. LEBOW 2,749,011

VENTILATED COMPARTMENTED BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. I AF/M/A/ ,(ff ,zffiwl June 5, 1956 l. LEBOVV 2,749,011

VENTILATED COMPARTMENTED BOX Filed Dec. 12, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 that direction.

United States PatentO VENTILATED COMPARTNIENTED BOX Irwin Lee Lebow, Coral Gables, Fla., assignor to National Container Corporation, New York, N. 1., a corporation of Delaware Application December 12, 1951, Serial No. 261,2ii3

4 Claims. (Cl. 229--6) The present invention relates to a packing box of ventilated type, the interior of the box being divided into compartments by partitions, the partitions, instead of hindering or obstructing ventilation within the box, as is the case in the prior art, contributing greatly to more efiective ventilation of the interior of the box.

Containers of the type under discussion, often made of double faced paperboard or some similar comparatively inexpensive structural material, are usually adapted to-be shipped to the point of use in knocked-down condition, being erected by the user when the box is to be employed for shipping purposes. When these boxes are to contain products requiring a steady supply of air, as, for example, live chicks, means must be provided for ensuring ventilation through the box in order to avoid destruction of the contents in transit. Since such boxes, with their contents, are often shipped in enclosed spaces, such as the bodies of trucks, freight cars or the like, it will be apparent that the means for providing ventilation of the interior of the boxes must be extremely eflicient. This is particularly the case when the boxes are to be shipped to a climate approximating that of a tropical or sub-tropical area. In such a climate unless adequate ventilation is provided, the temperature of the interior of the boxes is liable to rise to a prohibitive degree.

In the past the walls and partitions of boxes of this type have been apertured so that air can pass from one side of the box to the other. It will be apparent that in this type of box the partitions, although they are aperured, nevertheless inhibit free circulation of air within the box to an appreciable extent even though they do not completely obstruct the flow of air. Moreover, such boxes are subject to the drawback that if they are stacked in such a way that one or more side walls of the boxes are against a solid wall of the space in which the box is stored or transported or are otherwise blocked from access to air, no ventilation whatsoever will take place in This eifectively destroys whatever cross ventilating properties might otherwise be inherent in the box.

In the box of the present invention the partitions, far from inhibiting the ventilating properties of the box, directly and positively assist in ventilation, this being accomplished by so constructing the partitions that they define, in and of themselves and in conjunction with appropriately placed apertures in the side walls between which they extend, ventilating passages which permit the free entry of air and the distribution of that air throughout the interior of the box. When, as in the case here specifically illustrated, a plurality of intersecting partitions are employed, the partitions are so constructed that the air passages defined by each partition intersect and communicate with one another, so that flow of air from the air passage through one partition to the air passage through another partition is facilitated. These partitions are provided withauxiliary air passages communicating with the compartments formed in the box by the par- 2,749,01 l iiatented June 5 1953 titions themselves. These auxiliary air passages not only permit communication between the longitudinal air passages in the partition and the compartments of the box, but also permit air to circulate from one compartment to another in any direction.

According to another specific aspect of the invention, the partitions are provided with vertically upstanding vanes adapted to fit within slots in the top wall of a cover adapted to be associated with the box and project upwardly above the cover, these vanes having portions bendable outwardly over the top wall of the cover so as to hold the cover in place on the box. The fact that the vanes extend upwardly above the top wall of the cover permits those vanes to provide support for a box which might be stacked on top of the box in question, thus providing an air space between boxes which materially facilitates ventilation when a number of these boxes are shipped together. When, as here specifically disclosed, the top wall of the cover is itself apertured so that air can pass therethrough, the ventilating space provided by the vanes permits the ventilating apertures in the top wall of the cover to be eflicacious in facilitating ventilation within each box.

The box proper, the partitions, and the cover are all formed from blanks which may be shipped in flat condition and erected at the point of use. The blanks defining the partitions, where a plurality of intersecting partitions are to be employed, are provided with interlocking portions which facilitate assembly of the box with the partitions in proper intersecting relationship. As here specifically disclosed, each of the partitions is defined by a pair of lateral walls connected by a top wall, the lateral walls being spaced from one another so as to define a longitudinal air passage through the partition. When intersecting partitions are employed, these partitions are provided, at their points of intersection, with apertures which permit intercommunication between the air passages in the respective partitions. This provides for ready cross ventilation within each compartment of the box even if one side or another of the box might be externally blocked.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to a box structure and to a partition structure, as defined in the appended claims and as described in this specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a three-quarter perspective view of the box of the present invention with the cover in place;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the cover raised somewhat from its closed position so as to expose the interior of the box;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the blank from which the cover is made;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the erected cover;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the blank from which one of the partitions is formed;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view or" the erected partition formed from the blank of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the blank from which the other partition is formed;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the erected partition formed from the blank of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the blank from which the box proper is formed;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the erected box formed from the blank of Pig. 9; and

Fig. llis a view of the erected box, with partitions in place, partially broken away.

The body 2 of the box is formed from the blank of Fig. 9, that blank comprising a bottom wall 4 to which flaps 6 are secured by means of fold lines 8, the flaps 6 being adapted to be bent up out of the plane of the blank and substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 4 to define the side walls of the box. It will be noted that as here specifically disclosed the flaps 6 are designed to incline inwardly slightly, so as to give the box the shape of a truncated pyramid with a rectangular cross-section. Each of the fiaps 6 is provided with a slot 10 extending from the fold line 8 up toward but short of the upper edge of the flap, the purpose of which will become apparent hereinafter. Two opposite flaps 6 are provided at each of their end edges with narrow flaps 12 which are adapted, when the blank is erected, to overlap an adjacent flap 6 and be secured in place by means of staples, nails or other fastening devices 14 so as to hold the box in erected condition. The box side walls defined by the flaps 6 are provided with a plurality of apertures 16 there through so as to facilitate ventilation.

The cover of the box, designated 18, is formed from a generally rectangular blank shown in Fig. 3 and defined by the central portion 20 which forms the top wall of the cover, that central portion being provided with a plurality of radial slots 22 for a purpose hereinafter to be disclosed. Fold lines 24 separate the central portion 20 from flaps 26, which, when bent down from the plane of the central portion 20, define the side walls of the cover 18. Corner portions 28 are foldably secured to opposite flaps 26 by means of fold lines 30 and are separated from the other adjacent flaps 26 by means of cuts 32, these corner portions 28 being adapted to be infolded so as to overlap the fiaps 26 from which they are separated, being secured thereto by means of nails, staples or other fastener devices 14 so as to retain the cover in erected condition. The top wall 20 of the cover 18 may, if desired, be provided with apertures 33 to facilitate ventilation.

The novel intersecting partitions 35 and 37 of the present invention, which partitions are specifically designed to facilitate ventilation of the box, are adapted to be formed from the blanks shown in Figs. 5 and 7. The blank of Fig. 5, forming the partition 37, is defined by a pair of wall portions 34 adapted to form the lateral walls of the partition. Fold lines 36 connect these wall portions to flaps 38 extending substantially the length of the wall portions 34, these flaps 38 being adapted to be bent substantially at right angles to the wall portions 34 so as to define a top wall which closes the top of the space between the lateral wall portions 34, the space between the wall portions 34 constituting the longitudinal air passage 39 through and along the partition. in the form here specifically disclosed, the flaps 38 are connected to one another by means of bridging portions 40 sp -d from one another along the length of the partition, eae 1 of those bridging portions having a central fold line 42 and being connected to the opposite flaps 38 by means of fold lines 44. The end edges of each of the lateral wall portions 34 are provided with flaps 46 separated from the wall portions 34 by fold lines 48 and adapted to be bent at right angles to the lateral wall portions 34 when the partition is erected, so as to abut the side wall 6 of the box between which the partition extends on either side of slots 10 formed in those side walls. The partition is-adapted to be held in place between the side walls 6 of the box by means of staples, nails or other fastening devices 14 passing through the box side wall 6 on either side of the slot 10 formed therein and also passing through the flaps 46 secured to the end edges of.

the partition lateral walls 34. The lateral walls 34 are provided with apertures 50 which define auxiliary air passages between the longitudinal air passage 39 defined by the lateral walls 34 and the top wall 44, and the interior of the compartment formed inside the box by the partition 37.

When the partition is erected, the bridging portion 40 is bent along its central fold line 42 so as to extend upwardly from the flaps 38, the edges of those flaps 38 thus being brought together so as to define the top wall of the partitions, the lateral wall portions 34 being bent downwardly to substantially parallel position, spaced by the top wall 38, as shown in Fig. 6. The flaps 46 are bent outwardly at right angles to the lateral walls 34, and the partition is thus ready to be inserted into the box and secured in place between opposite side walls 6. The apertures 10 in the box side walls 6 define air access openings to the longitudinal air passage 39 through the partition, and the apertures 50 permit the air which enters the longitudinal air passage 39 to flow readily into all of the compartments of the box.

The description of the partition 37, as thus far explained, applies also to partition 35, the longitudinal air passage therethrough being designated 41. However, when, as here specifically disclosed, the partitions are adapted to intersect one another, specifically different constructions must be provided on each partition in order to permit interlocking and intersection. To this end the partition 37 is provided, at the point where it is adapted to intersect the other partition 35, with wide slots 52 extending upwardly from the bottom edges of the lateral wall portions 34, the width of these slots being equal to the thickness of the other partition 35. The slots 52 do not extend all the way up the lateral walls 34, but terminate short of the tops thereof in spaced narrow slots 54, the thickness of each of the slots 54 being equal to the thickness of the lateral wall portions 34 of the other partition 35, and the spacing between the slots 54 being equal to the spacing between the lateral walls 34 of the other partition 35. The other partition 35, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, is provided with a pair of narrow spaced slots 56, the width of each of the slots 56 being equal to the thickness of the lateral wall 34 of the partition 37, and the spacing between the slots 56 being equal to the spacing between the lateral walls 34 of the partition 37.

In assembling the two partitions, the partition 37 is adapted to straddle the partition 35, the partition 35 fitting up into the slots 52 in the partition 37, the narrow slots 54 of the partition 37 receiving that portion of the lateral walls 34 of the partition 35 which are just immediately below the slots 56, the slots 56 in turn receiving the portions of the lateral walls 34 of the partition 37 which are just above the slots 54 therein.

It will be apparent that after the partitions are thus interlocked, the slots 52 in the partition 37 will communicate with the longitudinal passage 41 through the partition 35 thus permitting air to pass all the way through that passage 41. In order to permit intercommunication between the air passages 39 and 41, the lateral walls 34 of the partition 35 are provided with large slots 58 extending upwardly from the lower wall edges. The width and registration of large slots 58 and 52 permit ready passage of air from one air passage 39 or 41 to the other, as dictated by the ventilating conditions to which the box may be subjected.

When the box is erected and the partitions are secured in place, as shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 11, the bridging portions 40, bent as they are along their central fold lines 42, define a plurality of upstanding vanes 59 which register with the slots 22 in the top wall 20 of the cover 18, the vanes 59 being adapted to pass through those slots 22 and project upwardly therefrom when the cover is in position on the box, as may be seen particularly in Fig. l. The vanes thus serve to position the cover on the box and also provide abutments on which a second box, stackedabove the box here illustrated, may rest, thus providing for a ventilation space between boxes at the top of one and the bottom of the other. In order to make this ventilation space more effective and meaningful insofar as the contents of the box are concerned, the top wall 20 of the cover 18 may be provided with apertures 33 for ventilating purposes.

The vanes 59 defined by the bridging portion 40 may serve other functions as well. Pins, staples or other fastening devices 14 may be passed through the overlying parts of the bridging portion 40 after it has been bent along its central fold line 42, the action of these fastening devices 14 serving to retain the partition in its erected condition.

in addition, cuts 62 may be provided in the vanes 59 near their outer edges and above where the top wall 20 of the cover 18 will fall, defining flaps 64 (see Fig. l) which, after the cover has been placed in position, may be bent out from the plane of the vane 59, and over the top wall 20 of the cover 18 in order to secure the cover in place on the box.

The ventilating potentialities of the box here disclosed, and particularly the effectiveness of the partitions in promoting adequate ventilation of the compratments of the box, will in the main be fully apparent from the preceding discussion. The partitions, because they are perforated, permit ventilation from one side of the box to the other in the manner familiar to the prior art. However, because of the longitudinal air passages 39 and 41 through the partitions 35 and 37 themselves, the partitions greatly facilitate ventilation of the contents of the box, particularly under adverse circumstances. Fresh air can enter each compartment from all four sides thereof, through the two side box walls and through the two lateral walls of the partition which define that compartment. Cross ventilation of fresh air, uncontaminated by having passed through other compartments, is thus provided, that cross ventilation being present even if two sides of the box are completely blocked from access to air. For example, having reference to Fig. I, suppose that the two side box walls not directly visible in that figure are up against corner walls of a truck body or the like, so that little or no ventilation is possible from those directions. Fresh air can, however, enter the box through the two side walls which are visible in that figure. In a box constructed according to the teachings of the prior art, adequate ventilation would occur only in the lower compartment of Fig. 1. The upper compartment would have practically no ventilation at all. However, by reason of the longitudinal air passages in the partitions of the box of the present invention, and particularly because those air pasages intersect and communicate by reason of the slots 52 and 58, adequate cross ventilation of fresh air in each of the four compartments of the box is provided. Cross ventilation in the upper compartment is provided between the partitions forming a part of that compartment, fresh air reaching those partitions through the slots in the visible side walls 6 of the box and through the longitudinal air passages 39 and 41 in the partitions. Fresh air can circulate through the left hand and right hand compartments of the box via the exposed side walls 6 and the partitions, three-Way ventilations thus being provided. In the lower compartment of the box four-way cross ventilation of fresh air is provided.

The improved ventilation permitted by the construction of the present invention enables boxes constructed according to its teachings to be used to transport perishable material, such as live chicks or the like, under extremely adverse conditions, over long periods of time and under unfavorable climatic conditions. The various parts of which the box is constructed are all formed in a simple and inexpensive manner from flat sheet material and may be shipped fiat and knocked down, to be erected by the user when needed as is common in the art.

While but one embodiment of the present invention is here disclosed, it will be apparent that many variations may be made in that specific disclosure, as to shape, size, configuration, or particular design features, all without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

.6 I claim: 1 v l. A ventilated partition for a box, said partition comprising separated lateral wall portions, flaps along the upper edges of said lateral wall portions bent toward one another substantially at right angles to said lateral wall portions so as to form a separating top wall between said spaced lateral walls, and a narrow bridging portion between and joining said flaps along foldlines at both sides of said bridging portion and having a central fold line parallel to said -fiaps, said bridging portion being adapted to be bent up along said side foldlines so as to define an upwardly projecting vane, said side foldlines abutting one another, and securing means holding the sections of said bridging portion bent around said central foldline against one another and thereby maintaining said partition in erected condition, said lateral and top Walls defining an air passage extending longitudinally through said partition, said lateral walls being apertured, and at least one fiap at each end of said partition, foldably secured to a lateral wall portion, and defining means by which said partition is adapted to be secured to said box.

2. A compartmented box comprising bottom and side walls and a partition extending between opposing side walls, said partition comprising separated lateral wall portions, flaps along the upper edges of said lateral wall portions bent toward one another substantially at right angles to said lateral wall portions so as to form a separating top wall between said spaced lateral walls, and a narrow bridging portion between and joining said fiaps along fold lines at both sides of said bridging portion and having a central fold line parallel to said flaps, said bridging portion being bent up along said side fold lines so as to define an upwardly projecting vane, said side foldlines abutting one another, and securing means holding the parallel sections of said bridging portion bent aorund said central fold line against one another and thereby maintaining said partition in erected condition, said partition thus defining, between said separated lateral wall portions, a passage extending longitudinally of said partition, and at least one flap at each end of said partition, foldably secured to a lateral wall portion, and operatively connected respectively to said opposing side walls so as to define means by which said partition is secured to said box.

3. A compartmented box comprising bottom and side walls and a pair of intersecting partitions each extending between opposite side walls, each of said partitions comprising separated lateral wall portions, flaps along the upper edges of said lateral wall portions bent substantially at right angles to said lateral wall portions so as to form a separated top wall between said spaced parallel lateral walls, and a narrow bridging portion between and joining said flaps along fold lines at both sides of said bridging portion and having a central fold line parallel to said flaps, said bridging portion being bent up along said side fold lines so as to define an upwardly projecting vane, said side foldlines abutting one another, and securing means holding the parallel sections of said bridging portion bent around said central fold line against one another and thereby maintaining said partition in erected condition, said lateral and top walls defining a passage extending longitudinally through said partition, the lateral walls of one of said partitions being provided at the point where it intersects the other portion, with slots having a width equal to the thickness of said other partition extending upwardly from the bottom edges of the lateral walls of said one of said partitions and terminating in narrow slots each having a width equal to the thickness of a lateral wall of said other partition and spaced from one another by a distance equal to the spacing of the lateral walls of said other partition, said other partition being provided with a pair of slots having a width equal to the thickness of the lateral walls of said first partition and spaced from one another by a distance equal to the spacing of the narrow slots in said first partition, said 7 slots extending through the separating top wall of said other partition and extending down through the upper portion of its lateral walls, thereby permitting said partitions to interlock where they intersect.

4. A ventilated partition for a box, said partition comprising separated lateral wall portions, fiaps along the upper edges of said lateral Wall portions bent substantially at right angles to said lateral wall portions so as to form a separating top wall between said spaced walls, and a narrow bridging portion between and joining said flaps along fold lines at both sides of said bridging portion and having a central fold line parallel to said flaps, said bridging portion being bent up along said side fold lines so as to define an upwardly projecting vane, said side 8 foldlines abutting one another, and at least one flap at each end of said partition, foldably secured to a lateral wall portion, and defining means by which said partition is adapted to be secured to said box.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,656,644 Meisekathen Jan. 17, 1928 1,993,112 Patterson Mar. 5, 1935 2,077,588 Schaefer Apr. 20, 1937 2,155,450 Shoemaker Apr. 25, 1939 2,322,239 Kramer June 22, 1943 2,559,948 Currie July 10, 1951 

